Lining of cast iron cylinder with copper alloy utilising high temperature oxidation

Lining the inner surface of a cast iron hydraulic cylinder with copper alloy would generally not be possible. In this study, the surface of a cast iron cylinder was decarburised by high temperature oxidation. The cylinder, after decarburisation, was filled with borax anhydride and heated at a temperature of 1203 K. Molten copper alloy was then injected into the cylinder, displacing the molten borax anhydride. After cooling, the embedded copper alloy was drilled along its centre axis so that a prescribed thickness of the copper alloy remained. Thus, the cast iron cylinder could be successfully lined with copper alloy

Enterovirus isolation from children with acute respiratory infections and presumptive identification by a modified microplate method

AbstractObjective: To evaluate a modified microplate method, utilizing HEF, HEp-2, Vero, MDCK and newly introduced RD-18S and GMK cell lines, for virus isolation.Methods: From June to October 2001, 723 throat swab specimens taken from children with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) were inoculated onto these cells. To analyze cell sensitivity, we also inoculated 20 serotypes of stocked enteroviruses.Results: During the period, we isolated 40 Coxsackie A2 (CoxA2), 13 CoxA4, 16 CoxA16, 1 CoxB2, 11 CoxB3, 2 CoxB5, 54 echo16, 2 entero7l and 1 polio2. By observing a cell sensitivity pattern with HEF, HEp-2, Vero, RD-18S, and GMK, we could finally differentiate five enterovirus groups: CoxA except for CoxA16, CoxA16/entero7l, CoxB, echovirus, and poliovirus.Conclusions: With this system, the RD-18S cell line enabled us to isolate CoxA virus, except for CoxA16, for the first time. Differentiation of five enterovirus groups by cell sensitivity simplified the specific identification by neutralization test as a presumptive identification. A modified microplate method may be an appropriate cell combination for virus isolation, especially for enteroviruses, and is expected to be used routinely for virologic diagnosis and to clarify the epidemiology of ARI in children

Significant Correlation between Chromosomal Aberration and Nuclear Morphology in Urothelial Carcinoma

We aimed to identify whether there is any correlation between chromosomal/genetic changes, nuclear morphology and the histological grade of urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder. Morphometry and multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) techniques were applied to 250 cells in five low-grade cases and 350 cells in seven high-grade cases of urothelial carcinoma. Compared with low-grade carcinomas, most high-grade cases showed larger and more variable nuclear size, more frequent polysomy of centromere enumeration probes (CEPs) 3, 7 and 17, and the loss of the 9p21 locus. The number of CEP signals in cells was increased as the nuclear area of the cells became larger. Cells with gains in two or more types of CEP had significantly larger nuclei than cells with normal FISH signal patterns. In conclusion, the present study indicates that there was a correlation between nuclear morphology and chromosomal/genetic changes which were related to histological grading. Thus, we show that differences in the chromosomal/genetic aberrations present in low- and high-grade tumours can affect not only nuclear morphology but also the histopathological and clinical behaviour of urothelial carcinomas

Lorazepam as a Cause of Drug-Induced Liver Injury

Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine derivative that is globally used for the therapy of anxiety and insomnia. A 51-year-old Japanese man with yellowish discoloration of the eyes and skin and pruritus was admitted due to liver dysfunction. He had taken lorazepam approximately 5 months prior to this admission. The clinical presentation and pathologic findings in the liver were consistent with drug-induced liver injury. After cessation of lorazepam, treatment with Stronger neo-minophagen C and ursodeoxycholic acid was started, and his liver injury resolved after 59 days. This case must serve as a warning to physicians to be aware of the possibility of unexpected liver injury caused by lorazepam